Tolerance Assessment of Tailored 3d-printed Transparent Face Orthosis With Silicone Interface for the Treatment of Post-burn Face Scar

Burn injuries are not a rare affection. According to WHO (World Health Organization), in 2004 there were 11 million peoples in the world who were affected by burn injuries caused by fire and who needed medical cares. This important number ignores non-fire thermal, chemical and electrical burns. Face is one of the most susceptible areas of burn where the prevalence was reported to be 6-60%.

Hypertrophic scars (HS) are frequent consequences of dermal burn with a prevalence of 70% of burned people. HS, which are a dermal fibro-proliferation, are rigid, erythematous and thickened scars associated with pigmentation abnormalities, xerosis, thermal sensitivity, pain and pruritus.

When HS is located on the face, they can cause cosmetic disorder with disfigurement and psychological distress.

Pressure therapy and silicone application are the two recommended non-invasive care for prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scarring after burn. On the face, Pressure Garment Therapy (PGT) cannot exert the required pressure because of concave or flat shape so the use of face mask is the most common form of pressure therapy on the face.

The face mask manufacturing is artisanal, time consuming and variable between all burn centers. They are not very accurate and have difficulties to apply effective pressure on certain face areas such as nasolabial folds.